THROUGH MY EYES

Written by Samantha

A sad goodbye that has flourished a new beginning. A chapter that began with fear and closed with love. I never questioned if I belonged here. I was accepted with open arms, big smiles and kind eyes. I never imagined I’d have the opportunity to come to Nepal and now I believe this was always in the cards for me.

My host father Mani Ratna and my host mother Manjali run a gold jewelry shop. Selling beautiful necklaces, earrings, and rings. I found a beautiful necklace that I would’ve loved to buy but it was 130,000 rupees. Unfortunately that was way over my budget so I will return in 5 years or so and buy that beautiful necklace. I already have it settled with my host father.

My Hajuraamaa would always greet me with a smile. She knew absolutely no English and I am no expert at Nepali but Namaste felt like home. She is 85 years old and is of hard hearing, so our namastes always felt like yelling matches. Still, it was always worth seeing her smile. On my last night with the family she gifted me a beautiful hand knitted bag she spent a whole day making just for me. My Hajuraamaa made me miss my Mami back home. Sharing the same memory of when I’d go visit my Mami and simply seeing her smile off of a single “hola”. It was literally just like home.

Aunt Laxmi also lived with us. I found out that she’s deaf and mute but that didn’t stand in the way of us communicating. I would tell her she looked pretty or that her glasses looked cool based on just expressions and signs. Laxmi wasn’t taught sign language. Her signs are typically her pointing at something or trying to express something she was feeling. With her I learned that words aren’t necessary to communicate. That emotions are felt through the heart, seen through the eyes, and met through the kindness of a smile. Laxmi taught me that the world doesn’t have to be lonely. Even in silence, even without words, emotion can be felt and shown.

My host brother Sambhav. He reminds me so much of my brother Angelo back home. Shy and reserved. Sometimes the brightest people shine the least because they dont believe their light is enough to illuminate their darkest places. Sambhav and Angelo both dim their light, not because they cant shine but because they dont believe its possible for them. Sambhav made me miss Angelo everyday.

At first, id joke and think, “well maybe Sambhav doesn’t like me. He never speaks to me” and then slowly but surely Sambhav and I would laugh and joke together. Sambhav, Mani, and I worked on a 500+ piece puzzle of The Multhnomah Falls and finished it after 5-6 days. I think its safe to say Sambhav and I are friends. Sambhav reminded me that Angelo does love me even if he feels distant and away, we are still brother and sister.

My host mom Manjali took me to a tailor to buy some Lehengas. It was a nice and quite stressful experience. Mila, my host sister joined us as well. My favorite colors are pahelo (yellow) and Suntale (orange). I ended up getting a yellow/sunset colored Lehenga and one golden/light yellow Lehenga. When they were done I tried them on for Mila and Manjali. I can  remember Manjali looking at me and saying, “You look like a Queen.” I remember feeling so seen.

On my last night with the family Manjali gifted me a beautiful yellow scarf with red and blue patterns. She looked at me and said, “Yellow… Your favorite color.” I cried. They weren’t tears of sadness. They weren’t tears of joy. My tears were of appreciation. My tears spoke from my heart. A heart that got reminded to keep beating. A heart that got shown that love and kindness is universal and not limited. It’s given and vast. It’s translated in gestures, gifts, quality time and most importantly through the eyes.

Mila, my amazing and beautiful host sister. Someone that from day 1 reminded me to not be afraid. Someone that would remind me that I’m strong, beautiful and talented. We gossiped and laughed so much about everything and anything. We had dance parties, makeup sessions, and believe it or not when we were in the mood to cry we’d watch sad movies like the fault in our stars.

She had become my bestfriend. My person. I have never had a sister. It’s always been my 3 brothers and I. I’d always say that if I had a sister I wouldn’t know what to do or how to play but Mila showed me something. She showed me how fulfilling and fun having a sister could be. Having someone who understands you. Someone that sees through the same lens and can hold the same experience even if it’s felt in different ways.

On the last day with my family Mila cried. Begging me to come back before I leave Nepal to go home. Through her eyes I could feel the pain in her tears. The yearning for just one more tomorrow. I was more happy than sad that day. Not only did I gain another family. I gained a sister. Something I didn’t have before but now know I needed.

This beautiful Newari family has gained a new daughter. A new sister. This Newari family has taken a piece of my heart and shaped it into a new home. In the beginning I said, “This chapter closed with love”, but the truth is, this ending isn’t finished. In my heart I know we will meet again.

Sapana

Samantha Leyva Gonzalez

MOVING ON FROM CHAUKATI

Written by Kilani and Samantha’s Instructors

At the end a wonderful stay in the village of Chaukati that went by very quickly, the group was sent off with blessings, flower mala, and some tears of love, and opted to hike several hours downhill to a nearby roadhead.

After a well-earned night of rest in Dhulikhel, we will be shifting to the next phase of the course, a retreat at Namo Buddha monastery, an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists perched atop a beautiful forested ridge outside of the Kathmandu Valley. We will stay there for a week, taking a deep dive into the Buddhist teachings and philosophy, as well as following an intensive daily meditation practice with our khenpo, a senior monk and teacher. Namo Buddha also offers us the rare opportunity to participate in aspects of the monks’ lives, including shared meals and prayer ceremonies.

CHOKATI HOMESTAY UPDATE

Written By Kilani and Samantha’s Instructors

Namaste Everyone,

It’s been a week since we have reached chaukati village and stayed with homestay families. Students have been very engaged with their language class and respective homestay families. They help out in the farms and the kitchen as well. This week, we visited a Blacksmith in the village who mainly works with making tools such as spade, axe, knife etc for the farm works. Then, we went to help clear a field for future agricultural use. We visited a Hindu temple devoted to Lord Shiva and learned about the rituals and sought blessings.

The group has done so well adapting into the village life here. They are enjoying the nature and the farm animals that their homestay families take care of. They have been playing volleyball with the local kids and there have been matches too! They enjoy their free time having tea at a local shop and talking with the shopkeeper in Nepali.

Here are some photos! Please enjoy them!

RURAL HOMESTAY IN CHAUKATI

Written By Kilani and Samatha’s Instructors

We’re writing from the beginning of our rural homestay in the village of Chaukati, nestled deep in the Himalayan foothills north of Kathmandu. Getting here involved a winding and bumpy five hour bus ride from Dhulikhel, and we are very happy to be here in this amazing new place.

This time will be filled with learning about the farming/agriculture that is the main occupation here, with hands on work like some small construction projects, carrying firewood and fodder, and taking care of farm animals. We are also continuing our daily Nepali language classes, which will come in very handy with the homestay families, few of whose members speak English. Students have already gotten busy exploring the surrounding countryside, playing a very competitive game of volleyball with some village kids, and eating lots and lots of daal bhaat!

MOVING TOWARDS MID COURSE

Written by Samantha and Kilani’s Instructors

After 3 weeks of Urban Homestay at Patan where the students did their ISPs now we are moving to Dhulikhel for midcourse.

In Patan they learnt Nepali language, which helped them a lot and now they can speak basic Nepali which would be a good way to initiate a conversation with locals. They were able to navigate in the alleys of Patan areas and even though they got lost they were able to find the way asking locals. They led the excursions on Sundays: they learnt about permaculture, pottery, botanical garden etc.

It was very difficult to say goodbye to their homestay families since they all had made deep connection with them. It was very nostalgic.

Now in Dhulikhel, we are celebrating the mid point of our course. We will explore the Dhulikhel in the afternoon. Everyone is excited to start a new phase.

TRYING NEW ETHNIC CUISINES IN NEPAL

Written by Samantha and Kilani’s Instructors

Namaste Everyone,

Yesterday, the group went to Raithaane restaurant a local eatery where we got to try a variety of cuisines from different Ethnic groups. Nepal is a multi-ethnic, multi-language, and multi-cultural country. There are more than 100+ ethnic groups who live in Nepal.

We tried Rikikur(potato pancake) Kanchemba(Buckwheat fries) – food from the mountains people – Sherpas, Batuk (lentil doughnut), and Chukauni (potato salad) from the hills – Magars, Faksa (a dish related to Pork) from Rai and Limbu communities. We had a dessert called foxtail millet pudding and Foxtail millet salad too!
Hope you all are doing well! And Happy Women’s Day!  🙂

BHAKTAPUR EXCURSION

Written by Kilani and Samantha’s Instructors

This Sunday the group went on a student-led excursion to the ancient city of Bhaktapur, which is famous for its tradition of pottery work among other things. The students arranged a class from a local master potter, who shared some of the history of Nepali pottery and the state of the industry, as well as helping us to get our hands muddy making some of our own pieces – photos attached! We are looking forward to seeing the finished pieces next week.